Port Jefferson, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 161 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 161-31
Responsibilities of owners
Operative Text
A. Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of this code and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this code may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility. B. Owners and operators of multiple dwellings shall be responsible for proper installation, maintenance, condition and operation of service facilities and for furnishing adequate heat and hot water supply where they have contracted to do so. C. Whenever any person or persons shall be in actual possession of or have charge, care or control of any property within the Village as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, operator or agent such person shall be deemed and taken to be the owner or owners of said property within the true intent and meaning of this code and shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this code to the same extent as the record owner; and notice to any such person of any order or decision of the Building Department shall be deemed and taken to be a good and sufficient notice as if such person or persons were actually the record owner or owners of such property. In instances where an occupant is responsible or shares responsibility with the owner for the existence of one or more violations of this code, said occupant shall be deemed and taken to be an owner within the true intent and meaning of this code.
Port Jefferson Code ch. 161 § 161-31 establishes that property owners bear ultimate responsibility for complying with the Village's housing code, even when operators or occupants also carry duties under the code or have made private agreements about who handles compliance. Owners and operators of multiple dwellings must properly install, maintain, and operate service facilities and must supply adequate heat and hot water when they have agreed to do so. The provision also extends 'owner' status to anyone exercising control over a property—such as an executor, trustee, agent, or operator—meaning those individuals are bound by the code and can receive official notices just as a record owner would be.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Port Jefferson Code ch. 161 § 161-31, compliant property owners and operators generally ensure that all housing code obligations are met regardless of what any lease or management agreement says about delegating those duties. Operators of multiple dwellings maintain service facilities and consistently provide heat and hot water when those services are part of their contractual commitment to occupants. Anyone acting as an agent, trustee, or manager of a property should be aware that the Building Department may direct official notices and orders to them directly, with the same legal effect as if they were the record owner.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Port Jefferson Code ch. 161 § 161-31 makes clear that a property owner cannot escape housing code responsibility simply by pointing to a lease clause or a management company arrangement—the owner remains accountable regardless. If a multiple dwelling lacks proper heat, hot water, or functioning service facilities that the owner or operator agreed to provide, that failure may constitute a code violation attributable to the owner or operator under this section. Tenants who believe a violation exists may consider documenting the condition, contacting the Village's Building Department (which is authorized to issue notices under § 161-31), or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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